Udemy

The Art of Figure to Ground Photography's untaught secret

For years, the Art of Figure to Ground was only taught to artists.
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Length Under 3 weeks
Effort 1-2 hours
Price $ 15
Subject Art, Design
Level Beginner
Languages English
Video Transcripts English

In this course "The Art of Figure to Ground" we will explore how to add layers to your photograph. Artists have used layers to tell stories in their images, but to make them work effectively we must fully understand the concept of Figure to Ground relationships. From street photography to portraiture, every layer is an opportunity to add something to your picture.

Have you ever wondered why professional photographers always get good images? Are they just lucky or do they see the world differently?

A Room for Improvement is the first photography program that starts training your most important tool, Your Eyes. While most of the photography world is obsessed with gear and post production, the real secret to taking amazing images is learning how to see like an artist. Join artist & photographer Adam Marelli as he shares the tools, lessons, and training that classical artist use to bring images to life. As a trained photographer, painter, and sculptor Marelli combines twenty years of art eduction into simple to follow lessons that you can do in your own backyard.

EXPECT RESULTS

By the end of this course, you will understand why photographers always say that "the equipment doesn't matter." Learning to see like an artist is one of the single most fulfilling steps on the way to becoming a better photographer. In addition to improving your own work, you will be able to walk into any gallery or museum in the world and know, with full certainty, whether you are looking at a great piece of art or not.

Who this course is for:

  • Photographers who want to add layers to their photographs.
  • This course is designed for people who want to tell stories with their photographs.
  • This course will apply to Street Photography, Portraiture, Landscape, and Still Life photography.

What you'll learn

  • Learn how and why we want to add layers in photography (and I'm not talking about Photoshop here)

  • Learn how Figure to Ground will help you spot a scene before it happens (I give examples of how I use this technique in the video)

  • How to make pictures with 1, 2, 3, or even 4 subjects at the same time.

  • Lessons from Master Artists in this video include: Raphael, John Singer Sargent, Rosso Fiorentino, Jacopo Pontormo, & Paolo Veronese

  • How to choose a background and what effect it will have on your subject.

  • A practical guide to take you from Black and White to Color pictures using the principles of Figure to Ground.

  • Step by step guide to seeing a photograph before it happens, so you don't miss the decisive moment.

  • By the end of this course you will have a new found appreciation for master artists and never run out of material for your own photography projects.

Course syllabus

Lecture 1: Why your discoveries matter? Lecture 2: Spot the Background first? Lecture 3: Use black and white to see color. Lecture 4: Work like an artist. Lecture 5: Solutions from my portfolio. Lecture 6: See the photograph before it happens.

Meet the instructors

Adam Marelli

Professional Photographer & International Exhibiting Artist

In 2010, artist & photographer Adam Marelli opened the doors of his studio to train photographers in the lost lessons of classical art. After the success of his “One on One Mentoring Program” he was invited to give an experimental lecture at B&H Photo Event Space in New York City. The first lecture “Bridging the Gap” (170,000+ views) connected the worlds of art and photography for the first time, in a language designed for photographers. Following the success of his first lecture, he was invited for a second lecture “How to talk to Strangers” (over 180,000+ views) which was highest reviewed lecture in B&H Photo history.

When Marelli is not in the studio, he runs projects and workshops internationally under the “Adam Marelli Workshops” program. With a calendar of sold out workshops, he wanted to make his teachings available online to a larger audience because he knows that everyone can become a better photographer. Now all you have to do is join his lectures to see why he believes that Success is not Accidental.

Adam Marelli (b. 1980) | Artist & Photographer based in New York City (USA) | graduated from New York University (sculpture & photography) | Apprenticeships with a master builder (10 years) and zen monks (7 years) before opening his studio | Member of The Explorer’s Club AR’13 | Exhibits sculpture and photography internationally | Represented by Invisible-Exports | Instructor at Leica Akademie (NYC) | Runs international photography workshops where he teaches the lost lessons of classical design | Works and writings featured in NY Times, GQ, Forbes, Surface Magazine, The Gothamist, Art Photo Feature, Doc! Photo, Leica Blog, Phaidon Press, Origin Magazine.